{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreig6qwptudmunxildbsr7bjdvwa2jwfhctb3cafbu5u42oarniimem",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmcruh7ahw22"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreidthfuihn5onbxpvdsrcrq7y23zuopojzrumkezotuz3hf3b7zdei"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 210310
  },
  "path": "/royal/prince-william-arrives-istanbul-solo-aston-villa-secure-europa-league-trophy",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-20T20:34:54.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "last year's Champions League quarter-final against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.",
    "watching on in horror as the Villains conceded a shambolic goal against Austrian side RB Salzburg",
    "King Charles and Queen Camilla plant royal tree at Northern Ireland garden party",
    "Queen Camilla pours perfect Guinness as she jokes: 'I'm not the expert, my husband is!'",
    "Mike Tindall playfully mocks John Terry on social media",
    "Ezri Konsa shared the support his club have received from William",
    "England boss Thomas Tuchel, the Villa manager, and Damian Vidagany, Director of Football Operations at Villa Park.",
    "he handed the trophy to the victors, Manchester City,",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe Prince of Wales arrived in Istanbul alone as his beloved Aston Villa look to secure the Europa League for the first time in their history.\n\nA video posted on social media by TNT Sports shows Prince William heading into the Besiktas Stadium, where tonight's crunch match will be hosted.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe prince cut a slightly nervy figure as he swiftly walked past the cameras and into the arena. Later, when in the stands, William could be seen clasping his hands together, almost as if he was praying for lady luck to be on his side tonight.\n\nSomething that may quell William's anxieties is that Villa boss Unai Emery is well-versed in these occasions. The Spaniard is tonight taking charge of his sixth major European final tonight, having won four of them, according to OptaJoe.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe future monarch's 12-year-old son, Prince George, has often accompanied his father to Villa matches, such as last year's Champions League quarter-final against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.\n\nThe pair travelled to Paris together to watch the first leg, where they lost 3-1. They could be seen embracing and hugging each other when Morgan Rogers put the Birmingham-based club 1-0 up in the first half.\n\nHowever, William has opted to travel to Turkey solo tonight.\n\nHis beloved club are on the verge of history, as they search for their first piece of silverware since 1996.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAnd William will be joined by around 11,000 Villa fans, as they desperately search to end their trophy drought by winning their 13th Europa League game of the season, out of a possible 15 - the most important of them all.\n\nThe prince has followed the journey from the beginning, watching on in horror as the Villains conceded a shambolic goal against Austrian side RB Salzburg in this year's group stage - they went on to miraculously win the game 3-2.\n\nAnd earlier this month, the Prince of Wales struggled to contain his emotions as the side in claret-and-blue overcame a 1-0 deficit on aggregate against Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest with a thumping 4-0 semi-final victory at Villa Park.\n\nWilliam roared with emotion, while cameras spotted him leaping into the air, thrashing his arms, and screaming with pure joy.\n\n### LATEST ROYAL NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * King Charles and Queen Camilla plant royal tree at Northern Ireland garden party\n  * Queen Camilla pours perfect Guinness as she jokes: 'I'm not the expert, my husband is!'\n  * Mike Tindall playfully mocks John Terry on social media\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nJust yesterday, Villa and England defender Ezri Konsa shared the support his club have received from William ahead of their Europa League final.\n\n\"Ever since I joined, he has shown unreal support, coming into the changing room and showing us the utmost respect,\" the centre-back said.\n\nAnd on his most recent trip up the M40, the prince was spotted rubbing shoulders with England boss Thomas Tuchel, the Villa manager, and Damian Vidagany, Director of Football Operations at Villa Park.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nBut the future King of England's connection with football runs deeper than just his passion for Aston Villa.\n\nFor 20 years, William has held the position as President of the Football Association, and in 2024 was also made Patron, following the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.\n\nIn the capacity of his role, he attended this weekend's FA Cup final, where he handed the trophy to the victors, Manchester City, after their 1-0 victory over Chelsea.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Prince William cuts nervy figure as he travels to Istanbul solo"
}